- According to the Truman State University website, youth slang helps adolescents build independence and distance themselves from adults
- Simply asking about the meaning of a new word without judgment is the best way to talk to your teenager on a daily basis
- National Geographic magazine’s publications show that constant language correction and criticism build an unnecessary wall between the child and the rest of the family
- Artificial imitation of teenagers’ words by adults most often causes young people to feel ashamed in front of their peers.
Why does a teenager use strange slang? We explain the reasons
There comes a moment when your child comes home from school and starts talking in a way you don’t understand at all. Instead of normal words, strange phrases appear and you wonder where it all came from. This is a completely normal stage of adolescence that affects almost every young person.
As we can read on the Truman State University website, young people build their independence in this way and show that they have their own rules. Youth slang it allows them to feel a bond with their peers and at the same time cut themselves off from the adult world. Using strange words is simply a signal for them that they want to decide for themselves.
How to respond wisely to youth slang? Proven methods
When you hear a word you don’t understand from your child’s mouth, it’s best to stay calm and just ask for its meaning without judgment. According to HealthyChildren.org growing children need a safe space at home where they can talk freely without fear of preaching. It may be a good idea to listen to the child calmly, instead of immediately lecturing him about linguistic correctness. Thanks to this attitude, you show that you are sincerely interested in his world, and this builds trust on a daily basis. If you start preaching morals, your child will quickly shut down and stop sharing his/her affairs with you.
What mistakes should you avoid when talking to a teenager? We give you a hint
Many parents wonder how to talk to a teenagermeanwhile, with good intentions, we often do things that discourage adolescents from discussing things and create an unnecessary wall between us:
- constantly improving your pronunciation and paying attention to every colloquial word
- criticizing youth sayings in a discouraging tone
- preaching long sermons that sound exalting
- exaggerated empathy with the child’s emotions, which usually looks artificial
It is worth remembering that constant criticism of the language most often begins in the family home, as National Geographic magazine points out. Instead of pointing out every mistake, it is better to simply focus on what the adolescent actually wants to tell us.
Why is a parent speaking slang a bad idea? We explain
Sometimes parents think that the best way to communicate with a child is to use his or her own language. So they start adding buzzwords into their conversations at home, believing that this will make them look like a cool adult. Unfortunately, in reality, it has the opposite effect and often ends in embarrassment in front of the child’s friends.
The publication described by WebMD makes it clear that adults should focus primarily on authenticity and simply be themselves. Young people have a built-in very sensitive false detector and they will quickly sense that you are pretending to be someone you are not. If you start imitating forcefully teenagers wordsyou will lose the chance for real and honest communication in your home.
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